§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on her Department's388W policy with regard to the control of commercial activity within maintained schools by companies wishing to sell goods to pupils. [39893]
§ Mr. TimmsWhile we welcome business support for education, it is for schools themselves to decide whether to accept business sponsorship of educational activities or the sale of goods to pupils. We issued guidelines entitled "Best Practice Principles: Commercial Activities in Schools" last year to help schools make informed and sensible decisions about the nature of business involvement. The guidelines make clear that schools should satisfy themselves that the educational benefits of the commercial activity outweigh the potential disbenefits; that explicit sales messages should be avoided wherever possible; and that the level of any branding should be appropriate to the activity.